Role of Human Factors in Fall from Height Fatalities in the UK Construction Industry

Globally, fall from heights remains incessant in the construction industry with recent statistics revealing that about 65% of fatalities are directly linked to fall from height in the UK construction industry. Moreover, the problem is exacerbated by the persistent and reoccurring nature of falls from height in the construction industry. Yet, research about the contemporary roles of human factors vis-à-vis falls from height across high-risk industries is scarce. Aim: The study aims to provide a robust analysis regarding the role of human factors in fatalities caused by falls from height in the UK construction industry. Research question: What is the relationship between human factors and persistent falls from height incidents in the construction industry? Method: Mixed research methods (Qual-Quan) concept and phenomenological research strategy were adopted for a better understanding of the research variables. The study relied on HSE archived data and data obtained through a response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) UK for 10 years data on fall accidents in the UK construction industry. Also, a semi-structured interview was conducted with professionals in high-risk industries for better insight into the study. Result: The initial findings of the research show a range of human contributory factors such as workers fatigue, mental slips, hastiness, organisational pressures, etc are responsible for persistent falls among workers. Conclusion: The study findings reveal that 75% of falls from height cases in the UK construction industry are caused by human factors and it further underscores the significant role human factors play in falls from height incidents. Other findings from the study suggest that the use of bespoke and modernised airbag PPE by construction workers has the potential to significantly mitigate the effects of falls from height. The study is part of an ongoing PhD research that seeks to develop a conceptual framework aimed at managing dysfunctional safety practices among workers in the UK’s high-risk industries

Contemporary Safety Practices and Zero Fatalities Success Factors in the UK Construction Industry

Globally, adverse safety practices and persistent fatalities have created an impression that “there will always be accidents in the construction industry”. Recent evidence suggests that chronic fatalities are exacerbated by dysfunctional safety practices with less craving for zero fatality. Yet, research that unravels these subtle practices with compelling solutions is scarce. The study aims to identify subtle dysfunctional safety practices and propose solutions to persistent fatalities in the construction sector. Key research questions are: what dysfunctional safety practices influence reoccurring fatalities and what do zero fatalities success factors (ZFSFs) look like in the construction industry? The study adopted mixed research methods with a phenomenological paradigm, reviewing 10 years of HSE archived data and a semi-structured interview among construction professionals to provide deeper insights into the study variables. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS 29 and PowerBI analytics for visualizing the archive data. Initial findings indicate that human factors such as bad personal habits, mindset linked to complacency, distraction, taking shortcuts, and overconfidence contribute significantly to dysfunctional safety practices. The study reveals significant and disproportionate safety practices among construction workers requiring harmonisation across different sites. Also, dysfunctional safety behaviours and practices are prevalent, particularly in isolated sites managed by small construction firms. It concludes that achieving zero fatalities success factors is unlikely in the construction industry and recommends the active involvement of workers in developing health and safety strategies

Inequalities in the Uptake of Occupational Health Services in the Construction Sector

Recent report reveals that significant occupational health inequalities exist in the construction sector. The report suggests that on average, unskilled construction workers with low income have less access to occupational health services in the workplace and most likely to be victims of severe occupational ill-health on the long run when compared to other industries. Research regarding inequality, access, and uptake of occupational health services in the construction sector vis-à-vis workplace health improvement governance is scarce. To create awareness of inequalities, access, and uptake of occupational health improvement measures in the construction sector. What are the likely material factors required to improve access and uptake of occupational health services in the construction workplace? The study adopted pragmatic research philosophy, that involves mixed research methods including archive data, observational, interventional, and phenomenological research strategy. The study used stratified and purposive sampling techniques, with data collected from an array of professionals and occupational health diagnoses data from three medical centres in England. From the study suggests that on average construction and infrastructure, workers have less access to occupational health intervention compared to safety practices activities in a ratio of 1:18. Other findings indicate that 78% of occupational ill-health are linked to construction and infrastructure workers from poor/deprived background, low income earners, or migrants. The findings are clear pointer to glaring occupational health uptake inequality in the construction sector

Perceived Effects of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Adoption on Quality Financial Reporting of Quoted Companies in Nigeria

This study examined the effectiveness of IFRS on financial reporting quality of quoted companies in Nigeria. Five research questions were formulated and tested in this study. The study involved a sample of 150 respondents. A self-designed questionnaire was used, descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis at 0.05 level of significance was used to analyse the data gathered. Result showed that IFRS adoption would have significant positive effects on capital markets stability and efficiency. IFRS  adoption would significantly improve the transparency and usefulness of account to investors. IFRS adoption would  significantly improve public confidence in market and it will significantly enhanced the uniformity, comparability and reliability of the financial statements. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Standard setter such as financial reporting council should integrate the knowledge on the adoption of international financial reporting standard more in our institution curriculum. Regulatory authority such as security and exchange commission Nigeria Stock Exchange, Federal Board of Inland Revenue service should encourage all members and stakeholders to adopt as single financial reporting standard that will reduce information asymmetry in our economy. Keywords: Effectiveness, IFRS, Financial, Quality, Information and Reportin

Theories of Costs of Health and Safety Compliance and Non-Compliance with Regulations

Globally, the economics of health and safety compliance and non-compliance with regulations remains absurd and elusive. Costs of health and safety compliance at enterprise level are elements that organisations find difficult to define or price adequately due to subtle, inconspicuous, and elusive nature. Conversely, evidence shows that costs of health and safety non-compliance with regulations in recent times are eye-watering and mind-boggling. Yet, theory that provides explanation of cost behaviours concerning health and safety compliance and non-compliance with regulations is rare. Aim: The aim of the study is to develop a theoretical concept that can be used to predict costs of health and safety non-compliance with regulations. Research question: put forward by the paper is: What are the predictable cost behaviours of health and safety compliance and non-compliance with regulations? Research Method: Phenomenological research strategy was adopted; with qualitative data collected via focus group discussions; in addition to detailed observation of 20 years real costs of health and safety non-compliance with regulations data. Findings: Reveal that costs of health and safety compliance with regulations are often ill-defined and elusive. Similarly, the study discovered that cost behaviour of health and safety non-compliance with regulations can be erratic and exponential in nature. Other finding reveals that for every health and safety failure (ill-health, injuries/fatalities), there are likely associated costs, that are contingent on specific legislations, rule of law, state (national laws), and commercial viability of organisation involved

Monitoring drought and effects on vegetation in Sokoto state, Nigeria using statistical and geospatial techniques

This paper aimed at assessing drought occurrences and its effects on vegetation cover in Sokoto State, Nigeria using geospatial and statistical techniques. Monthly precipitation data which span through a period of 40 years (1980-2010) and 30 years (1982-2011) respectively were used for generating Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) graphs and maps. LandSat   imageries of bands 3 and 4 acquired by Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) Sensor were used for generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). SPI and NDVI were generated for the study area based on inter-annual and decadal timescale. Findings showed that SPI values varied from extremely dry condition to extreme wet condition although near normal condition ranked highest while extremely wet condition ranked least.  It also revealed that most of the Local Government Areas experienced near normal conditions but  Isa, Sabon Birni and little part of the boundary between Goronyo and Wurno experienced moderately wet conditions between 1982 and 1991. It was further observed that the whole region was dominated with near normal condition except Sabon Birni and Isa LGAs that experienced extremely, severely and moderately wet condition between 1992 and 2001. In contrast, the SPI values for over 90% of the state  between 2002 and 2011 fall within the severely dry conditions. Findings further showed that change scenarios observed from the derived NDVI and SPI maps indicated that the climatic variability currently being experienced is likely to increase and intensify in future. It is obvious that urgent attention on drought management over this region is needed.Keywords: Drought, SPI, NDVI, Vegetation Cover, Landsat Imageries, Northern Nigeri

Population Structure Analyses Provide Insight into the Source Populations Underlying Rural Isolated Communities in Illinois

We have previously hypothesized that relatively small and isolated rural communities may experience founder effects, defined as the genetic ramifications of small population sizes at the time of a community’s establishment. To explore this, we used an Illumina Infinium Omni2.5Exome-8 chip to collect data from 157 individuals from four Illinois communities, three rural and one urban. Genetic diversity estimates of 999,259 autosomal markers suggested that the reduction in heterozygosity due to shared ancestry was approximately 0, indicating a randomly mating population. An eigenanalysis, which is similar to a principal component analysis but ran on a genetic coancestry matrix, conducted in the SNPRelate R package revealed that the majority of these individuals formed one cluster with a few putative outliers obscuring population variation. An additional eigenanalysis on the same markers in a combined data set including the 2,504 individuals in the 1000 Genomes database found that most of the 157 Illinois individuals clustered into one group in close proximity to individuals of European descent. A final eigenanalysis of the Illinois individuals with the 503 individuals of European descent (within the 1000 Genomes Project) revealed two clusters of individuals and likely two source populations; one British and one consisting of multiple European subpopulations. We therefore demonstrate the feasibility of examining genetic relatedness across Illinois populations and assessing the number of source populations using publicly available databases. When assessed, it becomes possible for population structure information to contribute to the understanding of genetic history in rural populations

Knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of broiler grow-out farmers on antimicrobial use and resistance in Oyo state, Nigeria

Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of Nigerian broiler grow-out farmers (n = 152) to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a five sectional purposive-structured-questionnaire: demographics; knowledge; attitudes; risk-perception; and response to regulation of antimicrobial practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. Respondents’ knowledge score, in total, was lower than average, with all (100%) respondents having the understanding that antibiotics kill/reduce bacteria, most participants (>73%) believing that feeding antibiotics to broiler chickens is a necessity for weight gain, and many (>69%) thinking that no negative side-effects exist with the use of antibiotics. Poor attitude towards antimicrobial usage was prevalent (>63%) with unsatisfactory performance in most instruments: >60% of farmers reported using antimicrobials every week and still use antimicrobials when birds appear sick, and most (>84%) arbitrarily increase the drug dosages when used. However, a satisfactory performance score was reported (68%) in risk perception of AMR with >63% perceiving that inappropriate use of antibiotics is the main factor causing the emergence of resistant bacteria; >65.8% expressed that AMR in broiler chickens is not essential for public health, that AMR cannot develop from broiler bacteria diseases, that increasing the frequency of antimicrobial use cannot increase AMR in future, and that usage cannot lead to antibiotic residue in broiler-meat products leading to AMR development in human. None of the respondents were aware of any regulation for monitoring antimicrobial use. Significant factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of antimicrobial use and resistance among broiler grow-out farmers include marital status, farm category, education, educational specialization, sales target, growth duration/cycle, broiler stocking batch, and feed source. Identified gaps exist in AMR awareness among Nigerian broiler farmers and should be targeted through stakeholders’ participation in combatting AMR threatshttp://www.mdpi.com/journal/antibioticsVeterinary Tropical Disease

No need to breed for enhanced colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve low-P adaptation of West African sorghums

Aims Western Africa (WA) sorghums are predominantly cultivated under low plant available phosphorus (P) soil conditions with a diverse population of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present. This study aims to determine whether sorghum breeding programs should target higher colonization by AMF through understanding the genotypic variation of sorghum for AMF-root colonization (AMF-RC) under different P-fertility conditions at different growth stages and assessing the genetics underlying AMF-RC using genome-wide association study (GWAS). Method A sorghum diversity panel of 187 WA genotypes was grown in low-P soil in a pot trial for 38 days and a subset of 13 genotypes was grown in a low- and high-P field until maturity at ICRISAT-Samanko in Mali, WA. Root samples were taken at 38 days from the pot trial plants and at flowering time in the field trials. Shoot biomass was analyzed for P concentration and dry matter yield. GWAS was conducted for shoot-P-content and AMF-RC. Results Significant genotypic variation was observed for AMF-RC, but the repeatability estimates were only low (w2 = 0.15 at 38 days) to moderate (w2 = 0.54–0.56 at flowering time). AMF-RC was significantly higher in low-P versus high-P field conditions. Large residual variation was observed for AMF-RC in both pot and field trials. None of the genotypic groups, contrasting for selection history, race and grain yield performance across multiple field trials, differed significantly for AMF-RC. AMF-RC showed no or negative relationships to shoot-P-content and grain yield, irrespective of soil-P level or plant developmental stage. AMF-RC at 38 days was significantly correlated (r = 67**) to AMF-RC at flowering. However, GWAS did not detect significant genomic regions for AMF-RC but did for shoot-P content